On anniversary, we honor the Americans who protected and served the country with the United States military. It's when we all remember who we are, where we came from, not where we fall along the political spectrum, but rather about politics and differences, and those who give our great republic the final dedication of devotion and bring people together.
Memorial Day became an official holiday in 1971, but began as a decoration day in 1868. It began as an effort to remember those who died in the civil war, those who were bloody brotherly conflicts of brothers who killed and wounded more Americans than any other war in our history. In fact, it was because of recent interstate discomfort, as the Gentile Southern women are sometimes mentioned, that they founded the first national military cemeteries, such as the Arlington Cemetery in Virginia.
The idea of adorning these sacred cemeteries with flowers and chanting prayers for those who fell is attributed to John A. “Blackjack” Logan. Logan was a Union general in Illinois and fought in Bull Run and many other battles. He became head of a group of Union Veterans after the war ended.
We all celebrate our anniversary in many ways. But as a lover of classic Hollywood movies, I have compiled a list of war films that may be suitable to watch this anniversary weekend. I have limited my choice to six movies you can cover with a bold watch in one day. They were difficult to choose because Hollywood made so much. One factor that all these films have in common is that they are all based on.
The decoration (now the monument) has begun the day marking those who died in the civil war, so I am starting with two films about the conflict.
civil war
“The Horse Soldiers” – A film by John Wayne and William Holden, the great 1959 director John Ford stars. Wayne plays the Colonel in charge of the Union Cavalry Brigade sent to the assault deep within Confederate boundaries to destroy the railway supply depot, which assists Vicksburg in resisting Ulysses S. Grant's siege general. Holden plays the surgeon assigned to accompany Wayne to a constantly conflicted brigade. Along the way, they go to pick up a mistress of a southern plantation who is forced to accompany them after she overhears the plan, as pursued by the Confederates.
The film is based on a 1863 cavalry raid led by Colonel Benjamin Greerson, who destroyed the Confederate supply line from Tennessee to Louisiana during the Vicksburg campaign. A great movie with the ending you always remember.
“Gettysburg” – This 1993 film is perhaps the most realistic portrayal of what happened in the pivotal battle of the civil war. Not only did they have an all-star cast including Tom Belenger, Sam Elliott, Jeff Daniels and Martin Sheen, but the parts actually performed on the Battlefield of Gettysburg.
That included filming in the Devil's den and small round tops, and places I visited tremble my spine as I thought about the people who fought and died there. One of the reasons why the film is so good is that it is based on an outstanding book written by The Killer Angels by Michael Shaarah.
World War I
“Sergeant York” – A 1941 film about a real sergeant. Alvin York was directed by Howard Hawks, one of the top directors of Hollywood's golden age. Although it began as a conscientious opponent due to his religious beliefs, he became one of the most decorated soldiers of World War I and one of the most decorated soldiers of World War I.
The film about how York turned from the Buckhills in Tennessee to the bloody battlefield of France is actually based on his diary. The humility of York, which Gary Cooper portrays in the film, was also a reality. York was extremely resistant to the films being made about him, and he was only persuaded after the Hawks agreed to fund a small Bible school in his eastern Tennessee homeland.
World War II
“They were consumables” – Director John Ford made a film in 1945 about the little-known misuse of the PT boat squadron in the Battle of the Philippines, which fought against the overwhelming Japanese Navy in the Battle of the Philippines from 1941 to 1942. Starring John Wayne and Robert Montgomery, it depicts two real PT boat commanders. Montgomery himself actually commanded the PT boat during the war.
The film is filmed in a semi-documentary atmosphere and includes the evacuation of General Douglas MacArthur and his family from the Philippines on a PT boat before the US Army surrenders to Japan.
“Twelve High” – This 1949 film directed by Henry King, we move from the Pacific Navy War to the European Air Force. The film tells the story of a crew of a B-17 bomber flying out of England through Nazi-occupied Europe. Starring Gregory Peck, Hugh Marlowe and Dean Jagger. The story and characters are based on 306 real exploits and officersth 8 bomber groupth The Army Air Force suffered from very high causality, with young crew experiencing severe mental, emotional and physical stress and trauma. The film produced a television programme that ran between 1964 and 1967. This tense film gives you a taste of what these brave young Americans have experienced to win the war in Europe.
South Korea
“Toko-Ri Bridge” – This film about the air force in South Korea and its mission to destroy North Korea's large-scale defense bridge was created in 1954, just a year after the war ended. William Holden, Grace Kelly, Fredrick March and Mickey Rooney star as helicopter pilots who were charged with rescue of a fallen pilot. Holden plays a reserve naval officer called back to mission as an aviator.
Veteran actor Fredrick March has a memorable line in Holden, a line that can be recognized by all veterans as the admiral in charge of the Navy Career Task Force.
The film is based on a book by James Michener based on attacks that took place during the winter of 1951-1952, and was held on a North Korean railway bridge by naval pilots flying away from USS Essex and USS Oriskany.
Vietnam
“We were Soldiers” – fill in the films that everyone mentions when talking about Vietnam like “The Deer Hunter” and “Apocalypse Now.” According to the veteran I spoke to, the best and most realistic film about Vietnam is this 2002 film directed by Randall Wallace, starring Mel Gibson and Sam Elliott. It is a true story based on Rivet's book, “We We Were Once Soldiers… And Young.” Moore is the commander of one of the first Army Air Force Cavalry Units, and the film follows him and his men until the Battle of Lang Lang on November 14, 1965.
Moore and his 400 men were dropped into the La Drang Valley, where more than 4,000 veteran North Vietnamese forces were not aware there were. Galloway actually went with Moore and was awarded his gallantry (as a reporter) bronze star to help the injured soldier. The film depicts the fierce battle that follows. The Americans are overwhelmed by enemy forces, capturing both fear and bravery on display.
None of these films praise the war. What they do is to demonstrate the courage, courage and sacrifice of American soldiers, often under great odds and horrifying conditions, in many different generations, in many different eras. They show the moral dilemma facing men who did not like violence and did not want to kill them, but greater profits were forced to do so in order to win the evil of their time.
My salute today is to many Americans around the world in our army, guardians of the gates, stand in their posts, enjoying our homeland peacefully in our homes and families, and commemorating our brothers and sisters who have protected us in the past.
May God bless America.
